Plate changer



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F. B. STEPHENSON Jan. l5, 1929.

PLATE CHANGER Filed Aug. l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Ita. 1

Jan. 15, 1929.

F. a STEPHENSON PLATE CHANGER Filed Aug. l, 1927 lli?.

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-. FRANK B. STEPHENSON, DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO LLOYD L. EVANS, 0F

' CLEVELAND, OHIO.

,I Y PLATE CHANGER.

Application Vtiled August 1, k1927. Serial No. 209,679.

This invention relates to a plate changer for use in making X-ray photographs and has for its object to enable a plurality ot photographs to bev taken after a patient has been placed in the proper position for the exposure without disturbing the patient.

More specifically it is the aim of the invention to provide means for supporting a plurality of plates or films sovthat they may be brought successively to the exposure position quickly and noiselessly.

A further object is to provide an adjustable support for the movable plate changer which will permit of the photographs being made with the patient standing or sitting and which will enable the plate holder to be quickly adjusted to the proper height for subjecting the desired portion of the body of the patient to the X-rays.

A further object is to provide a shield for the plates having a portion formed of a mae terial readily pervious to the X-rays and a portion imperviousor opaque thereto and in connection with theeshield to provide a revolving plate holder by which the plates may be successively brought from a position back of the impervious or opaque portion to position registering with kthe pervious portion of the shield.

A further Objectis to provide a` plate supporting devicehaving a rotatably mounted plate holder and a shield adjustably mounted to change the position at which the plates are f exposed.

- With the above andother objects in view the invention may be said to comprise the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art j to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings formingl a part of ,this specification in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plate changer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2 ;V f

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with a portion at the center broken away to show the'pivot upon which the plate holder and shield are mounted;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the plate holder detached; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of shield.

Referring to the accompanying drawing the plate vchanger is mounted in an upright frame which may be supported in any suitable manner on the fioor, preferably by means such as casters by which it may be moved to any desired position in the room. This frame consists of a pair ot spaced standards 1. connected at the top by a cross rail 2 and provided along their inner sides Vwith guide grooves 3. Mounted for vertical movement between the standards 1 there is a frame 4 provided with tongues 5 along the opposite side edges thereof which fit within the guide grooves 3. The frame 4 is adjustable vertically and is counterbalanced by a weight 6 connected by a cable 7 to the frame, the cable 7 extending over a guide sheave 8 on the top rail 2. The Jframe 4 is easily adjustable up or down between the standards and is held in adjusted positions by its frictional engagement with the standards 1 so that it remains in any position to which it is adjusted, but may be easily shifted.

f One'face of the frame 4 is flush with the front edges of the standards and against the front tace thereof there is a plate holder 9, which is supported substantially at its center upon a horizontal pivot pin 10 carried by the trame 4 and perpendicular to the plane edges 15 between which the frame 9 is received, the interfitting edges 14 and 15 of the holder and frame being concentric and having their common center at the axis of the pivot 10 so that the plate holder may revolve in the frame.v The frame 4 forms a cover for one side of the plate holder and the opposite side thereof is covered by a shield which may be. attachedxto the frame 4 and which consists of a fixed sectionl extending from the pivotal axis to oneend of the the upperlatch 19 is released and the 'Regardless of whether Vor lower position, successive lpositions of adjustment as shown in frame anda hinged section 17 which extends from the axis to the opposite end of the frame; the hinged section lr'inay be secured in closed position by a suitable latch 18 and is adapted to be opened to permit plate to be inserted in or removed from the compartment of the plate holder positioned behind it. The fixed section 16 is impervious or opaque to X-rays while the section 17 is pervious to such rays, the plate behind the section 17 being in position for exposure whilel the other plate is protected froathe rays by the impervious portions 16 of the shield.

The plate holder 9 is normally retained in upright position by means of releasable latches 19 and 2O mounted on t-he frame 4 and engagingv the upper and' lower ends of the holder.' The holder is preferably slightly overbalanced by weight 21 adjustably mounted upon one side edge thereof so that when the upper latch 19 is released the frame will automatically turn to reversed position.

Prior to taking the photographs new plates are placed in the compartments'of the frame 4 and the hinged cover section 1'? is secured in closed position. The weight 21 is adjusted to a suitable position with regard to the axis of the holder and the holder is retained in upright position by the upper releasable latch 19. The upper plate compartment of the frame is behind the pervious cover section 17 and is in the exposure position. rllhe patient is then placed behind the shield in the proper position to expose theV portion of the body to be photographed to the X-rays passing through the plate in the upper portion of the plate holder. V

As soon as the first exposure is completed plate holder overbalanced by the weight 21 automatically and nois'elessly swings to reversed position, bringing the other plate to exposure position 'so thata second exposure may be .takenwithout in anyway disturbing the patient.

It is sometimes advantageous to make the exposurethrough the lower portion of the plate holderand to enable this to be done the shield may be supported to swing upon the pivot 10 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, permitting the impervious Y or opaque portion loroflthe shield to be positioned either over the upper portion ofthe frame or the lower portion as may be desired. Vthe impervious or opaque portion ofthe shield is in the upper exposures of the two plates maybe obtained by releasing the upper latch 19 and permitting the plate holder to swing by gravity to reversed position.V Suitable catches or latchesl 22 employed to hold the shield in either of its and the shield may be formedwith wings or may bel extensions 33 so that the arms of a patient cannot interfere with the movement of thel and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

That l cla-im is:

1. A plate changer for use in lli-ray photography comprising a supporting` frame, a shield rotatably mounted on the frame and having a portion pervious to X-rays and a portion impervious thereto, aplate holder 'rotatablyV mounted behind the shield to turn about the axis of rotation of the shield and having ineansnfor supporting a plurality of plates, means for securing the shield in adjusted positions, and means` for releasably securing the holder in successive positions in which diii'erent plates are positioned behind the pervious portion of the shield.

A Vslatechanger for use in X-ray photography comprising a Vsupporting frame, a shield having a portion perviousto X-rays and a position impervious thereto, a counter balanced plate holder movably mounted behind t-he shield and havingsoa-ced plate receiving portions, `means for releasably securin the holder in a position in which one of the plates is behind the' pervious portion of the shieldrand from which the counter balance tends to move it, whereby the holder is automatically shifted toposition a second plate behind said pervious portion upon release of said securing means. Y

3. A plate changer for use'in X-ray photography-comprising .a supporting frame, a shield having a portion pera/ions to Xfays and a portion impervious thereto, a plate holder movably mounted behind the shield and having spaced plate receiving portions adapted to be successively positioned behind cally stopping and holding the plate holder.'

after each shifting movement.

4. A plate changer for use in K-ray photography comprising a supporting frame, a member adjustable vertically on the frame, a plate holder mounted on said member to turn about horizontal axis displacedfrom theicente of gravity thereof, a shield overlying said holder, said shield having a portion pervious `to X-rays and a portion impervious thereto and means vfor releasably'holding theplate .holder in a position inwhi'ch a plato holding vportion is behind the -pervious portion of the shield and `from which the plate'holdertends to moveV by gravity. i -Qr-'r plate changerl forV `use in", X-ray ian lill) photography comprising a supporting frame, a member adjustable vertically on the trame, a plate holder mounted on said member to turn about a horizontal axis, and a shield overlying said holder, said shield having a portion pervious, to X-rays and a portion impervious thereto said shield being mounted to turn about the axis of said holder.

6. A plate holder foruse in X-ray photography comprising a supporting frame, a plate holder movably mounted on said frame to turn about an axis lat right angles to the plane of the plate holder and having spaced plate receiving portions, and a shield overlying said holder, said shield having a portion pervious to X-rays and a portion impervious thereto and being mounted for adjustment about said axis independently of the plate holder.

7. A plate changer for use in X-ray photography comprisinga supporting frame, a vertically swinging plate holder of elongated substantially rectangular form mounted to turn about a substantially centralA axis and having plate holding compartments on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, a shield overlying said plate holder and having portions above and below said axis, one of said portions being pervious to X-rays and the other impervious thereto, means for releasably holding the holder in an upright position, and a counterbalance adjustably connected to said holder.

8. A plate Vchanger for use in X-ray photography comprising a supporting trame, a vertically swinging plate holder of elongated'substantially rectangular form mounted to turn about a substantially central axis and having plate holding compartments on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, a substantially rectangular upright shield of a-size to overlie said plate compartments, said shield having one end portion pervious to X-rays and the other end portion impervious thereto, said shield being adjustable end for end, and means for releasably holding the plate holder in upright position.

9. A plate changer for X-ray photography comprising a support having a pair of verti-` cal standards, a member mounted to slide between the standards, said member frictionally engaging said standards and being counterbalanced to remain in any position to which it is adjusted therein, a horizontal pivot projecting laterally from said member, a plate holder and a shield overlying the plate holder both mounted to turn independently on said pivot, the plate holder having plate holding compartments, and the shield having a portion pervious to X-rays and a portion impervious thereto, and means for securing the plate holder and shield in different positions of angular adjustment- Y 10. A plate changer for X-ray photography comprising a supporting frame, a rectangular plate holder, and a rectangular shield overlying the plate holder, said holder and shield being mounted for independent movement about a centrally disposed horizontal axis, said plate holder having a plate compartment on each side of the pivotal axis and said shield having a portion on one side ot the axis pervious to X-rays and a portion on the opposite side impervious thereto, and independent means carried by the frame for releasably securing the plate holder and the shield in either of their reverse upright positions.

1l. A plate changer for X-ray photography, comprising a supporting frame, a rectangular plate holder, and a rectangular shield overlying the plate holder, said holder and shield being mounted for independent movement about a centrally disposed horizontal axis, said plate holder having a plate compartment on each side of the pivotal axis and said shield having a portion on one side of the axis pervious to X-rays and a portion on the opposite side impervious thereto, a latch carried by the frame and engageable with either end ot the shield, a latch carried by the frame and engageable With either end of the plate holder,and an adjustable counter- Weight carried bv the plate holder.

l2. A plate changer tor X-ray photography comprising a supporting frame, a reet-angular plate holder, and a rectangular Ishield overlyingthe plate holder, said holder and shield being mounted Jtor independent movement about a centrally disposed horizontal axis, said plate holder having a plate compartment on each side of the pivotal axis and said lshield having a portion on one side of the axis pervious to X-rays and a portion on the opposite side impervious thereto, a latch carried by the frame and engageable with either end ot' the shield, a latch carried by the frame and engagable With either end of the plate holder, and a countervv'eight slidably mounted on an edge of the plate holder and having means by which it may be secured in adjusted position thereon.

13. A plate changer for use in X-ray photography comprising a supporting frame, a shield carried by the :trame having a portion pervious to X-rays and a portion impervious thereto, a plate holder adjacent the shield and mounted to swing about an axis at right angles to its plane, said plate holder having a plurality of plate holding compartments adapted to successively register With the pervious portion of the shield, said plate holder being counterbalanced :tor movement about its axis, and means for limiting the angular movements of the plate holder to position either plate holding compartment thereof in alinement with the pervious portion of the shield.

141. A plate changer for use in X-ray photography comprising an uprightsupporting frame having spaced standards, a plate holder having a plurality of plate compartments,

a shield mounted in upright position and overlying said plate holder and having a por- 'tion intermediate the standards pervious to X-rays and a portion impervious Lnereto, said plate holder being positioned entirely to one side of said standards and mounted for angular movement about an axis at right angles to its plane whereby the plate holder may be 10 moved angularly about its axis past the www... 

